Concrete drill bit guide and dust remover



N V- 7,- 1 A. v. SEIBOLD ETAL 3,351,143

CONCRETE DRILL BIT- GUIDE AND DUST REMOVER Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTORS ALVIN l4 SE/BOLD HORACE E. SH/RLE) A 7' TOPNEYS mwmmmmmwmwmxmw United States Patent Ofiice 3,351,143 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 3,351,143 CONCRETE DRILL BIT GUIDE AND DUST REMOVER Alvin V. Seibold, 2412 Cava Court No. 4, Sacramento, Calif. 95325, and Horace E. Shirley, 2515 Altos Ave, Sacramento, Calif. 95815 Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,312 2 Claims. (Cl. 175-209) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A gasketed, upper, rigid, flat plate carrying at right angles a sleeve for guiding a bit used to drill into concrete, the sleeve being connected to a vacuum cleaner hose for removal of the drill dust. The upper plate is secured to the concrete surface by a vacuum impressed upon a gasketed lower plate resiliently connected to the upper plate, the resiliently mounted lower plate being capable of accommodating to uneven surfaces.

The invention relates to apparatus for drilling holes in concrete floors and, more particularly, to devices for drilling holes by a dry process in the concrete fill on a cellular type of building floor.

Present-day buildings, particularly of the larger types, such as ofiice buildings, make use of a cellular floor construction to provide flexibility with respect to utility outlets. The flooring is customarily of elongated hollow metal channels placed side by side and covered by a concrete fill on which a suitable floor covering is laid.

In order to gain access to the hollow channels within which the utility conduits, e.g. telephone and electricity, are located, it is necessary to drill downwardly through the floor covering and through the concrete floor slab, which is sometimes two or more inches in thickness.

Heretofore, diamond drill bits have customarily been used for this purpose, the bits being mounted on the end of a rotary drill and being kept cool by sluicing the working area with water. This procedure has not only required the full time of at least one highly skilled person to manage the drill and sluice the bit so as to form an ac curate bore through the concrete, but it also has required a substantial amount of clean-up time to remove the concrete-dust laden puddle of cooling water found in the area after each hole is drilled. The diamond bits heretofore used have also been extremely costly.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for drilling holes in concrete which requires neither diamond bits nor cooling water.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for drilling holes which are very accurate.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hole drilling device which can be used even by relatively unskilled labor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for drilling holes in concrete which, upon completion of the job, leaves the area neat and clean and without any need for further removal of debris.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for drilling holes in a concrete floor slab which is readily movable from place to place.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a device for drilling holes in concrete which is economical both with respect to initial cost and to upkeep expense.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved device for drilling holes in concrete.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of various of the elements of the device used in a typical environment;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the template portion of the device;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the base plate and vacuum plate structure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the template structure disposed in a conventional environment, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 55 in FIG. 2.

While the device of the invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 12, is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested, used and sold, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

In the main, the device of the invention 12, finds its most frequent application in connection with drilling a vertical opening 13, or hole, in a slab 14 of concrete poured on top of a cellular floor structure, schematically shown most clearly in FIG. 4 and indicated by the reference numeral 16. The top surface 17 of the concrete is preferably smooth and level and, in many installations is covered by an appropriate floor covering (not shown) such as linoleum, rubber tile, asphalt tile or carpeting.

At an appropriate time in the construction of the building, the desired utility conductors 21 are pulled into the floor channels 22 and upon completion of the hole 13 the conductors 21 are led upwardly through conventional fittings (not shown) in order to service nearby outlets.

Advantage is taken of the fact that the horizontal surface 17 is usually level and moderately smooth. Accordingly, we provide a sturdy, flat, base plate member 26, generally rectangular in outline, but preferably including a protruding semi-circular projection 27 at the forward end (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Mounted on the bottom surface 31 of the base plate 26, as by an adhesive layer 32, is a fairly thick gasket member 33 covering the bottom outer margin of the base plate 26 and the protuberance 27.

The gasket 33 is fabricated from a resilient material such as Neoprene and is of a uniform thickness so that the base plate 26 is substantially horizontal in attitude when the device is positioned on the underlying surface preparatory for use. i

The gasket 33 is formed so as to cover the bottom sur face 31 of the base plate except for a generally rectangular central recess portion thereof, the recess being designated by the reference numeral 36. The recess 36 is defined by the vertical inner walls of the gasket 33 and the horizontal bottom surface 31 of the base plate 26 and houses certain vacuum members, shortly to be described in detail.

Mounted vertically on the top surface 46 of the base plate 26 is a hollow, circular cylindrical, guide sleeve 47 having a central bore 48 adapted to receive a drill bit 49 connected to an electric or pneumatic drill 51. A guide cylinder 52 on the drill stem 53 assists in aligning and centering the drill bit 49.

Disposed within the central rectangular recess 36 is a fiat, vacuum plate 61, generally rectangular in outline, as appears most clearly in FIG. 3. Formed around the margin, or periphery, of the vacuum plate 61 is a resilient grommet 66, the bottom surface 67 of which is normally substantially co-planar with the bottom horizontal surfaces 68 of the large marginal gasket 33 supporting the base plate 26.

The vacuum plate 61 is mounted below the base plate 26 in parallel, spaced relation thereto, and is spaced therefrom by suitable resilient washers 77 held by suitable fasteners 78 connecting the vacuum plate 61 and the base plate 26.

When the drill member 51 is actuated, the drill bit 49 and the attendant elements commence to rotate. In order to drill accurately, the base plate is kept in a fixed position.

This fixed position is achieved by impressing a vacuum within the recess 81, or chamber, defined by the bottom surface 82 of the vacuum plate 61, the encompassing lower walls 83 of the grommet 66 and the underlying surface 17.

The vacuum is induced by a suitable coupling 90 and vacuum pipe 91, or hose, having its lower end in communication with the vacuum chamber 81 and its upper end connected with a vacuum source, as at 92 in FIG. 1.

By inducing a vacuum in the pipe 91, the vacuum chamber 81 is reduced to a condition of below-atmospheric pressure. Consequently, the greater pressure in the overlying chamber 36 clamps the vacuum plate grommet 66 tightly to the underlying concrete surface 17'. In turn, by reason of the connectors 78, the base plate is pulled downwardly with substantial force, causing the resilient main gasket 33 to bear downwardly against the surface 17 and thus prevent movement of the guide sleeve template 47 as the drill bit is rotated.

It will be noted, particularly, that the vacuum plate 61 is not only free to rock within limits, by reason of the resilient washers 77 and the resilient grommet, so as to conform to the contour of the underlying surface of concrete, but the resilient grommet structure also serves to inhibit the loss of the vacuum induced in the inner chamber 81. In fact, the vacuum which obtains in the inner vacuum chamber 81 is sealed against loss both by the bottom portion of the resilient grommet 66 and also by the main resilient gasket 33. In the event any air leakage occurs from the recess 36 into the inner chamber 81 the reduced air pressure within the recess 36 creates a differential pressure with respect to the atmosphere, in which case the atmosphere acts directly upon the top of the plate 26 and forcefully urges the plate 26 downwardly, thus causing both the gasket 33 and the grommet 66 to seal even more tightly.

It can therefore be seen that with a vacuum formed as explained, the entire base plate structure is securely positioned against the concrete flooring and is capable of resisting vibrations even of a vigorous nature, such as might be occasioned, for example, when the drill bit 49 encounters a particularly hard rock fragment 95 in the concrete.

As an important feature of the device, means are provided for keeping the work area clean by withdrawing the concrete dust and debris generated by the drill bit. This is accomplished by attaching one end of a pipe 93 to the guide sleeve 47 adjacent the bottom thereof. The other end of the pipe 93 is connected to a flexible hose 94 leading to a vacuum cleaner 96 mounted for convenience on a dolly 97. Preferably, the suction member 92 is also located on the dolly, and both the cleaner 96 and the member 92 can be operated by suitable electrical mechanism (not shown) served by an electrical connection 98.

In practice, the locations of the various holes tobe drilled are indicated by scribed X marks on the floor, placed there by workmen working from plans.

After the scribed locations are marked, the hole drilling can be commenced. The dolly, with the attendant element, is wheeled to the first mark and the template is located so that the X mark is centered at the bottom of the bore 48 of the guide sleeve, the workman sighting down the bore 48.

At this juncture, the vacuum or suction members are actuated, thus not only clamping the template to the floor but also impressing a suction on the dust pipe 93. The

drill is then inserted in the guide sleeve and lowered so that the circular bit 49 commences to cut into the floor. Drilling is continued until the hole 13 extends downwardly entirely through the concrete. Often, under modern practice, the scribe marks are accurately located so that the completed hole is in registry with a knock-out (not shown) in the metal floor channel. This arrangement enables a subsequent crew of workmen to gain ready access to the cellular floor channel so as to install the necessary fittings and pull the electrical cables thereto.

After completion of each hole, the suction is broken" and the device is moved to the next location for a repetition of the foregoing steps.

As can readily be visualized, the template arrangement not only overcomes the previous problem of starting the drill on center, but it also assures a vertically true, clean, and accurate hole, this feature being of paritcular importance where, under modern practice, as explained above, the bottom of the hole must register with the subjacent knockout.

Exhaustive tests and cost studies have shown that use of the device has not only increased productivity many fold, but has, at the same time, accomplished this with far less eiiort on the part of the work-man. For example, the dry cutting procedure herein followed becomes of especial importance where, after carpeting is installed on the concrete slab, it becomes necessary to drill through the slab to the channel 22 to gain access to a utility line.

Heretofore, where the use of a cooling fluid has been required, it has been necessary to cut a very large piece out of the carpeting adjacent the hole to be drilled so that the coolant would not soak into and soil the carpet.

In using the instant device, however, only a small X cut need be made in the carpeting adjacent the outlet. The flaps formed by the X cut are thereupon peeled back and the device located so that the protuberance 27 centered over the area to be drilled. The vacuum is then turned on, and the dry drilling commenced. Not only does the vacuum formed in the chamber 81 serve to position the device securely, even with a carpeting rather than a smooth concrete surface, but the dust removal pipe so thoroughly extracts the debris formed by the drill as to make it possible to install and commence using the outlet without any particular further effort in cleaning the carpet or sewing the carpet back in place.

It can therefore be seen that we have provided a highly eflicient, yet compact and economical apparatus for the dry drilling of holes in concrete-covered cellular floors.

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete drill bit guide and dust remover for use on a substantially planar concrete surface comprising:

(a) a fiat, rigid, base plate;

(b) a resilient gasket mounted on the bottom periphery of said base plate defining a central recess;

(c) a fiat vacuum plate disposed Within said recess and below said base plate in substantially parallel spaced relation;

(d) a resilient seal carried on the bottom periphery of said vacuum plate substantially coplanar with said gasket, said seal defining a vacuum chamber;

(e) resilient members connecting said base plate and said vacuum plate, said resilient members being capable of flexing to permit said vacuum plate to conform to the contour of the underlying surface of the concrete;

(f) vacuum means connected at one end of a vacuum source and at the other end to said vacuum chamber for inducing a sub-atmospheric pressure within said chamber;

(g) a hollow cylindrical guide sleeve mounted on said base plate at right angles thereto in offset relation to said central recess, the bottom opening in said guide sleeve being in registry with a registering opening in said base plate to guide a drill bit therethrough; and,

5 6 (h) a dust withdrawal pipe connected at one end to 21 References Cited vacuum source and at the other end to said guide UNITED STATES PATENTS sleeve. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said guide sleeve is gi gg located above a gasketed portion of said base plate and 5 198157O 11/1934 Price 175 213 X said gasket includes an aperture in registry with said open- 3033298 5/1962 ;111:1;

ing in said base plate and said bottom opening in said guide sleeve. ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONCRETE DRILL BIT GUIDE AND DUST REMOVER FOR USE ON A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR CONCRETE SURFACE COMPRISING: (A) A FLAT, RIGID, BASE PLATE; (B) A RESILIENT GASKET MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM PERIPHERY OF SAID BASE PLATE DEFINING A CENTRAL RECESS; (C) A FLAT VACUUM PLATE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS AND BELOW SAID BASE PLATE IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION; (D) A RESILIENT SEAL CARRIED ON THE BOTTOM PERIPHERY OF SAID VACUUM PLATE SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID GASKET, SAID SEAL DEFINING A VACUUM CHAMBER; (E) RESILIENT MEMBERS CONNECTING SAID BASE PLATE AND SAID VACUUM PLATE, SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS BEING CAPABLE OF FLEXIBLE TO PERMIT SAID VACUUM PLATE TO CONFORM TO THE CONTOUR OF THE UNDERLYING SURFACE OF THE CONCRETE; (F) VACUUM MEANS CONNECTED AT ONE END OF A VACUUM SOURCE AND AT THE OTHER END TO SAID VACUUM CHAMBER FOR INDUCING A SUB-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; (G) A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL GUIDE SLEEVE MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PLATE AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO IN OFFSET RELATION TO SAID CENTRAL RECESS, THE BOTTOM OPENING IN SAID GUIDE SLEEVE BEING IN REGISTRY WITH A REGISTERING OPENING IN SAID BASE PLATE TO GUIDE A DRILL BIT THERETHROUGH; AND, (H) A DUST WITHDRAWAL PIPE CONNECTED AT ONE END TO A VACUUM SOURCE AND AT THE OTHER END TO SAID GUIDE SLEEVE. 